Evening Primroses
Evening Primrose on waste ground,
Lancaster
Flower spike - bent back sepals
Flower showing stigmas and stamens
Immature stamens and stigmas
Close-up of stigmas
4- valved seed pods
Spirally arranged leaves
Oenothera agg.
Onagraceae
It is an aggregate of closely related species, e.g., Large-
flowered Evening Primrose, Common Evening Primrose,
Small-flowered Evening Primrose and Fragrant Evening
Primrose.
They are difficult to tell apart because they readily
hybridise and backcross.
June to September
They are common throughout the country except for
parts of the North.
See the BSBI distribution map for Evening Primroses
They are neophytes, which were introduced in the 1620s.
They are extensively grown in gardens, from where they
continue to escape.
They are increasingly common on open waste ground.
Evening Primroses are showy, annual or biennial herbs
growing up to 1.8m.
Flowers are large- up to 8cm, 4-merous with 4 yellow
petals, bent back (recurved) sepals, 8 stamens and a
style with a 4-lobed stigma.
Fruits are valved pods.
Leaves are lanceolate and spirally arranged on the stem.
Flowers are supposed to open in the evening, but they
are also seen during the day.
Fragrant Evening Primrose is dealt with separately.
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Evening Primrose on waste ground,
Lancaster
Flower spike - bent back sepals
Flower showing stigmas and stamens
Immature stamens and stigmas
Close-up of stigmas
4- valved seed pods
Spirally arranged leaves
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